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P. H. RICHARDS.

` COTTON GIN. No. 305,230. Patented Sept. 16, 1884.

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, Sheets-Sheet 2. F. H. RICHARDS.

. COTTON GIN. No. 305,230. patented sept. les, 1884.

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1. NITED STATES PATENT Ormea,

FRANCIS H. RICHARDS, OF SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THEPRATT 8s VHITNEY COMPANY, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT.

COTTON-em.

.LPECIPICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 305,23), datedSeptember 16, 1884.

` Application filed December 31, 18,83. (No model.)

' 15 granted to E. Osgood, December 19, 1876, to

which reference may be had; and it consists in certain combinations ofmechanism hereinafter described and claimed.

Figure 1 is a plan view of a machine em- Fig. 2 is a front elevation ofthe same. Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the left-hand end of Fig. 1.Fig. 4 is a partial end view of the right-hand end in Fig. 1; Fig; 5, avertical transverse section in line a" a' ofFig. 2.

Similarletters refer to similar parts throughout the several views. Y

The frame of the machine, which I prefer y shall bebf a box form,substantially as shown, 3e has secured thereto the usual doctor-knife,Ii, guard-plate C, and guide-plate D', two lugs, F', formed or securedthereon,in which are formed the bearings for driving-shaft O, a lug, F,in which is secured the stud N, lugs for rods 21, 3 5 bearing-surfacesfor feed-board supports, and a recess properly formed to receivetheslide S. Two levers, L, are pivoted to the frame by means of screws 15,and are adapted to carry at their upper ends the friction-roll D, which4o has the usual covering of leather or similar material. The shaft ofthis roll carries at one end a worm-gear, Gtwhereby it is rotated. A isufficient pressure of the roll D upon the doctor-knife may be securedby means of rods 21, springs 22, and lugs 20, or by a weighted lever.The slide S carries a stud, N, which carries the wheel B. Said slide istraversed by means of a screw, S, which passes through a tapped hole insaid slide and acts against the 5o frame, and is operated by a crank, asshown,

or otherwise, for the purpose of adjusting the tension'of the endlessclearer C. The studs N and N have fitted over them a thimble, Bl and B3,respectively, secured by nuts and washers 9 10, and to these thimblesarclitted the band-wheels B B.

Upon the band-wheels B and B is placed the endless clearer C. The upperedge of said clearer is undulated, as plainly shown in Figs. 2 and 3.Suitable nuts, 8, above and below the band-wheels, are provided foradjusting them to and securing them in any required position upon thethimbles. These bandwheels have lianges at their lower edges, to preventthe clearer C from being forced downward by the pressure of the cottonupon its upper edge.

G, which receives -its motion from a pinion, G, on drivingshaft O, thelatter being driven by pulley P. The driving-shaft also carries aworm-pinion, G3, gearing into the wormfriction roll whereby the latteris driven. Thescgears are constructed of such proportions relative toeach other, the size of friction-roll D and band-wheel B being dulyconsidered, that the velocity of the endless clearer as great as thevelocity of the surface of said friction-roll.

Upon the front of the doctor-knife is secured a suitable guard-plate, C,and in the space between these the endless clearer C is adapted to run.Beneath the friction-roll a guide-plate, D', may be placed for thepurpose of passing the mass of ginnedA cotton out of the machine in goodshape.

A feed-board, H, having sides H H2, is supported in any convenientmanner, as upon posts 1G and 17, and has the usual gratingV, for theescape of the ginned seeds, allowing them to fall into the seed-box,this being the chamber within the frame A, as shown, from which they maybe removed at convenient intervals. Y

The operation of my improved roller cottongin is as follows: Power isapplied to the machine by means of a band upon pulley P, which,

wheel-G4, which is fixed to the shaft of thev Upon thimble B3 is formedor secured a gear,

shall be preferably about eight or ten times rapid rotation o1" theband-wheel B,an d thereby the endless clearer, and -a slower rotarymotion of thelfriction-roll D is imparted by means of the worm-gearingdescribed. Seedcotton is now applied to the feed-board and pushed by theoperator against the frictionroll, which draws a portion of the lint ofthe saine downward between the said roll and the doctor-knife. Themotion of the clearer, by means of the elevations on its upper edge, thesame being properly adj usted therefor, gives to the seeds of thecotton-lint so held asuccession ofvrapid blows,severing the cottonfibers therefrom and allowing` them to fall through the grating into theseed-box. Willen the seeds are thus separated, the lint from the same iscarried under the roll D and issues from the machine at the back side.As the lint of one lot of seeds is removed therefrom the motion lof thefriction-roller brings other lint into its place,and thus the operationis continuous so long as the feed-board is properly supplied.

By means of the described `construction ot the band-wheels, theirsupporting-thimbles, and the studs N N, the draft or tension oftheclearer tends to keep the bearing of the said thimbles upon said studsequal throughout their whole lengtl1,thereby causing the clearer to runtrue, and not run upward and oit' from the wheels. By the arrangement ofgearing shown and described, the entire driving mechanism is broughtinto a compact form and made to operate advantageously.

Having thus described my imiention, I clain1 l l. In a cotton-gin,incombination, a doctorknife andafriction-roll, an endless seed-clearer,flanged band-wheels B and'B, thimbles B and B3, studs N and N', meansfor adj Listing and securing said band-wheels upon said thimbles, andmeans for adjusting stud N relative to stud N', whereby said clearer maybe tightened upon said wheels,substantially as described.

2. In a cotton-gin, in combination, a doctorknife and a friction-roll,an endless seed-clearer, iianged band-wheels B and B', thimbles B2 andB3, studs N and N, and meansfor adjusting and securing said band-Wheelsupon said thimbles, substantially as described.

FRANCIS H. RICHARDS.

